So. I met some of the people who would be sifting through applications and resumes, hopefully got my face a little stuck in peoples' heads, and possibly made a bit of an impression in conversation at the networking party. Based on these interactions... I wasn't super confident I was even going to make it to the interview round, but then obviously I did get scheduled for one. Sarah and I kept practicing.
When I got in there, I was nervous. There were six people interviewing me - Jason, the program's executive director, and 5 women I had never met but some of whose bios I had read on the website (that meant they were from last year's class). Having recent fellows on my panel meant I might have a better chance since they would remember how daunting the application process was. I had already met Jason at the beginning of the networking party when he and Sarah and I were three of maybe 8 people there; we traded friendly barbs and made snarky comments about someone's outfit. Instant understanding!
Because Sarah and I had practiced, I did not freeze when they asked me questions - I paused, pulled up the stock answer I had ready for a similar question, modified it, and spat it out. SUCCESS!!! My panel was inquisitive and curious, but in a nice way. I didn't feel intimidated by them, and in fact almost felt like they wanted me to have my best shot. They asked semi-leading follow up questions to get me to open up more.
One of them is running for Tacoma City Council. Another is a children's advocate and lobbyist. One of them is a small business owner (Adrift Hotel in Long Beach, WA, so if you go to Long Beach, you know where you should stay!) And the others are doing equally interesting/amazing things. Suffice it to say, these people have all "leveraged their networks" which is a big catchphrase in IDF. Everyone in my interview panel was inclusive, engaged, and supportive. I was SO lucky.
My answers weren't perfect. But they were good enough. My panel laughed. They were slack-jawed when I spoke of my friend Matt's death under a wind farm turbine as the reason I'm excited for the Eastern WA weekend (touring a wind farm is on the agenda for that weekend). They encouraged me to speak more on things they found pertinent, things that might help me better get in.
And it worked! Here I am, spending half of my time running around with these new people - once strangers, now quickly becoming friends.
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